Seventeen picks products that we think you'll love the most. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

The emerging TikTok aesthetic, explained.

Gummy bears. Lisa Frank stickers. Rainbow stripes. Beaded bags. No, you didn’t just uncover a nostalgic time capsule buried by an elementary school back in 2005 — this is kidcore, TikTok’s newest up-and-coming aesthetic.

The new "-core," coined by new media artist Matt Star, creates space for people to fully embrace wearing child-like clothing that makes them happy, whether that's smiley face prints, rainbow striped shirts straight out of Sesame Street, or Tamagotchi accessories. It's a super accessible aesthetic for all kinds of people to dabble in — hallmarks of the signature style include primary colors, overalls, patchwork, and pop culture references (like Care Bears or the Little Miss characters). If you love the vibes of after school cartoons and ‘90s sitcom fashion, you’ll totally love the fun, easygoing aesthetic that is kidcore.

You might be asking yourself, “Isn’t kidcore just dressing like you’re in elementary school?" Know that the aesthetic is so much more than that — it's a way of dressing for your inner child and finding joy in simple things. It's also foolproof method for injecting the pure delight of childish fashion straight into your wardrobe, no matter how old you are. Now if you're ready to dive into the colorful world of the kidcore aesthetic, keep scrolling for our favorite style inspo and plenty of joyful outfits to recreate below.

Primary colors are one of the most defining features of kidcore — bring out your inner Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street with a colorful, bright knit sweater like this cardigan.

Overalls are a kidcore staple piece because they'll pair well with a lot of pieces, whether that's a striped tee or a simple sweater. Add iron-on patches to customize your overalls.

There's truly a pair of Converse out there for every single aesthetic. Naturally, the most kidcore-worthy Chuck Taylors have a patchwork print in the funkiest primary colors.

Kitschy, whimsical, loud — this sweater is definitely a head-turner. Get ready for the compliments to roll in once you wear this playful 3D kidcore cardigan.

Dressing kidcore doesn't mean that you have to break out your backpack from preschool that your mom has stored in the basement (although you totally could) — reach for whimsical accessories like this strawberry milk carton bag instead.

Now all of your mirror selfies will match your aesthetic, thanks to this easily-attachable phone charm made of flower and pony beads. All you have to do is remove your phone case, thread the chain through, and then put your phone case back on.

This combo of kidcore stripes and the preppy collar is *chef's kiss.* Style it with overalls to achieve the maximum aesthetic effect.

You can proudly boast your favorite Little Miss meme on baby tees like this cropped "Little Miss texts that she's on her way when she hasn't left the house yet" (hah!) shirt.

Don't sleep on these comfortable, light-as-air clogs — Crocs are the perfect kidcore shoe. If they feel a little too simple for you, spice them up with '90s and '00s-themed jibbitz charms.

PSA: You don't have to dress kidcore from head-to-toe in order to embrace the joyful aesthetic. Sometimes, a couple smiley faces on a basic T-shirt is all you need.

We have two words for you: sweater vests. This bunny rabbit piece is super playful, and you can pair it with literally any color. Bonus points if you wear pigtails with colorful hair ties.

One of the best parts of kidcore is embracing things that you might not have thought of as fashion, as fashion. Case in point: goldfish in a bag earrings. Who would've thought?!

Fruit prints are a fun way to incorporate little kidcore motifs into outfits that you already wear — your favorite jeans, T-shirt, and sneaker combination just got upgraded.

Remember the Care Bears? The lovable animated characters are a huge part of kidcore, so dig through your little sister's closet to see if she has any Care Bears accessories you could borrow for your kidcore transformation, or just order this adorable hoodie.

Colorful, beaded bags scream kidcore because they look vaguely something you could've put together as a DIY craft back in elementary school — and plus, they're super cute.

Primary colors + funky flowers + statement jewelry = the perfect pair of kidcore earrings. They're serving kooky science teacher (ahem, Miss Frizzle from The Magic School Bus) in the best way possible.

Not a huge fan of primary colors? Try swapping in bright, '80s inspired color combinations instead. They'll feel just as nostalgic and joyful.

Homer Simpson knew a thing or two about what made his inner child happy. This bright donut bucket hat (kidcore check #1) is super whimsical (kidcore check #2) and unique (kidcore check #3).

If you're debating whether a sweater is kidcore-worthy or not, just ask yourself, 'Would Harry Styles wear this?' If the answer is yes, you're on the right track.

Plastic resin necklaces in the shape of gummy candies and fruit are the perfect way to add a touch of kidcore to your 'fits. They look so good, you'll be tempted to take a bite.

There's a reason why black and white checkered Vans have been around for so long. They're an old school, kick-back type of shoe that pairs perfectly with literally any color combo, including rainbow.

Scrunchies were the go-to hair accessory for the '90s kids, the Y2K kids, the VSCO girls of the 2010s, and now the kidcore lovers — basically, scrunchies will never die. You might as well stock up.